The new WingDox solution says they are making it easier for airlines to create, edit and use their documentation. To this end, gds is cooperating with its partners IT Flight Ops Solutions and Virtual eTraining. They says their aim was to combine both the e-learning tool TAGGIS and the digital document distribution system DocBrowser with the review and approval portal ARC-Desk and the content management system XR/aviation from gds GmbH. The result is a modular platform that avoids media discontinuities, and enables the seamless creation, checking and distribution of their manuals, documentation and training content.
“WingDox is an open, flexible and modular documentation management and distribution system that optimally covers the special technical and regulatory requirements of airlines,” says Klaus Fenchel,
responsible for the Aviation and Defence division of gds. The solution, which is based on an optimized and uninterrupted XML workflow, is not only fast and cost-efficient but also minimizes the risk of information loss. Up to now, the document lifecycle for aviation documents was often associated with several media breaks. Despite electronic creation via PDF, paper-based document review, approval and delivery was required, reducing quality, slowing the process and incurring high costs.
WingDox boasts it takes care of this problem. WingDox consists of several modules that can be used individually or combined. This suits airlines that already have partial solutions and want to continue using them. Based on the open architecture and the XML-based information management, existing systems can be combined with the modules in WingDox to a powerful overall system. “We are pleased that we and our partner were also able to integrate the virtual, cloud-based e-learning and training platform TAGGIS,” says Fenchel. With its 360° panoramic view, TAGGIS creates a visual and virtual environment in which processes can be trained interactively.The WingDox solution consists of two tools each from gds GmbH and Virtual eTraining AB. The XML component content management system XR/aviation and the reviewing and approval system ARC-Desk originate from gds. IT Flight Ops Solutions contributes the DocBrowser Suite, Virtual eTraining AB additionally contributes TAGGIS.
The web-based reviewing and approval portal ARC-Desk facilitates the smooth transfer of information between technical experts, technical editors and users. This helps all parties involved in an airline to create change requests as well as to check and approve changes in the technical documentation. Once a change request has been reviewed and approved, the requirements are implemented in XR/aviation. Thanks to its aviation-specific functions, the future-oriented CMS helps airlines to meet the requirements of national aviation authorities quickly, cost-effectively and safely. The system for creating and managing XML content supports revision and change management, makes it easier to fulfill with compliance requirements, and enables users to provide information specific to aircraft and target groups. Before the revised manual is published, all change requests are released and approved by the responsible national aviation authority.
DocBrowser is used to distribute the regularly changed information to the end users: pilots, cabin crew, technicians, or administration. The active documentation can be accessed via web portal or an iPad app. Information can be filtered according to aircraft and target group. In the administration portal, it can be defined in fine granularity who can or must see which information, whether a read confirmation is needed and when information becomes valid or invalid. With TAGGIS, technicians, pilots and the cabin crew can easily complete their trainings. TAGGIS and DocBrowser are tightly integrated, so that relevant trainings can be accessed from the documentation and the underlying documentation from trainings.
Through the cooperation of gds with with IT Flight Ops Solutions AB and Virtual eTraining AB, and the development of WingDox, the creation of manuals for the aviation industry is greatly simplified. This saves cost and time, but above all it ensures safety. “I see great and unique synergies between the companies and their respective products,” says Patrick Sävström, CEO of IT Flight Ops Solutions. “Our new platform enables technical writers to work more smoothly without media breaks. End users get immediate access to the information. The integrated training system also allows many contents to be trained interactively. “The uniform, consolidated WingDox platform enables a secure and fast information lifecycle and at the same time provides optimum support for the various target groups. gds, together with documentation experts specialized in aviation, also offers the possibility of outsourcing part of the documentation or managing peak loads. Two models are offered by WingDox: licensing with the option of in-house installation and rental as Software as a Service. The core functions of the systems can also be tested in a demo environment.